THE CARIBBEAJJ ARE& — CUBA 



lines carrying a small, barbless, feathered hook. This method has been proved feasible and 

 is now in use. 



The Campeche Bank fishery utilizes handlines for the capture of the highly-prized 

 groupers and snappers. Some trolling may be done on the voyage to and from the fishing 



grounds. 



At Batabano, the majority of the fishing boats use short, haul seines, which they 

 employ on the outlying cays and shallows in order to capture the various snappers, grunts, 

 and hinds. They, also, use handlines at times. 



In many of the fishing sections, extra large castnets are in regular use. One with a 

 radius of about 15 feet was observed near Uanzanillo. 



Spiny lobsters are taken by hand from the shallow water near the reefs and with long- 

 handled dip nets wliich have a long-bagged net hung from an offset hoop. The hoop is placed 

 over the lobster and, since these Crustacea practically always rise when disturbed, they be- 

 come entangled in the bag. The net is then swept horizontally, closirig the bag over the hoop 

 and preventing in this manner, the escape of the snimal. Some lobsters are also tak n in pots 

 and occasionally they may be caught in haul seines or in castnets. 



The sponge fishery relies on long poles 20 to 25 feet in length which are armed with 

 steel hooks. Sponge fishing is carried on from small rowboats with a larger vessel as a base. 

 The crews of the row-boats are each con^osed of two men. One man maneuvers the x^swboat and 

 the other, lying prone on the stem, peers into the depths with a water glass. The pole is 

 laid horizontally in the skiff and it is balanced in a Y-shaped crotch which stands vertically 

 in the skiff, Biis crotch is about tvro feet high. TRhen a suitable sponge is discovered, the 

 boat is maneuvered into position; and, at the correct moment, the fisherman kicks the pole 

 upward, thus destroying the balance and causing the hooked end of the pole to slide into the 

 water. As soon as this occurs, he guides the pole to the sponge, hooks it, and then raises 

 the sponge to the surface. It is evident that this type of fishing calls for excellent 

 judgment and coordination. 



Prices 



Prices current in Cuba in October 19^ were high because of a relative shortage of fish. 

 Y.'ar conditions had affected Cuban fishing more than that of most other Caribbean areas. The 

 Fisheries conducted in the shallow Gulf of Batabano on the southern coast were furnishing 

 most of the fish reaching Habana markets. Ihe important Campeche Bank handline fleet which 

 normally brings into Habana up to 10 million pounds of groupers and snappers annually had 

 discontinued fishing because of an alleged inability to pay wcir-risk insurance and higher 

 fishermen's wages. A number of these vessels were being rebuilt for carrying freight. In 

 other communities, some fishing units were finding it more profitable to engage in other 

 work. At Isa'oela on the northern coast, some fishermen were finding that they could employ 

 their boats to best advantage in handling wood. While retail prices were high in the markets, 

 it was reported that the fishermen were being paid little, if any, more than normally. It 

 was apparent that price incentive to produce more fish was lacking. V/ith gear replacements 

 almost impossible to obtain, and costly if available, many fishermen viere engaging in other 

 occupations. 



Although fishermen were paid from ij cents to 10 cents per pound for fish in round, the 

 consumer v;as paying 25 to 30 cents per pound for eviscerated fish at the market. Meat was 

 being sold for an average of 16 cents per pound. During normal times, reportedly, 15 cents 

 per poiind is the average price paid for fish in Habana, 



Cuban minimum wage scales in general are reported to be 1.30 pesos (Sfl.30) a day for 

 laborers in rural districts, and 1.50 pesos a day for laborers in urban areas, with special 

 social benefits, such as paid vacations, in effect increasing these wages by about 20 per- 



168 



